Removable outrigger float and mounting device

ABSTRACT

A removable outrigger float and mounting assembly for use on small boats to prevent capsizing and to provide flotation for the boat if it becomes swamped or for a passenger who may become lost overboard. This safety device is mounted on the boat preferably in pairs, one each on the port and starboard side. The float is supported parallel to and above the surface of the water by an arm extending downwardly from the float and removably insertable in a close-fitting retaining slot in a receiving fixture attached to a side of the boat and opening upwardly to matingly receive and retain the downwardly extending arm from the float. A safety bolt, tightenable from within the boat by a passenger in the boat, extends through the boat hull and into the retaining slot in the receiving fixture to engage the downwardly projecting arm of the float and retain the float in an outrigger position unless the float is removed for storage or to be thrown to an overboard passenger.

United States Patent [191 Shroyer 1 Dec. 16, 1975 REMOVABLE OUTRIGGER FLOAT AND MOUNTING DEVICE [76] Inventor: Milton B. Shroyer, PO. Box 338,

Mineral Wells, Miss. 38648 [22] Filed: Aug. 27, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 501,199

[52] US. Cl 114/123; 9/10 [51] Int. Cl. B63B 43/14 [58] Field of Search 114/123, 39, 61, 68; 9/1 R; 248/229, 314

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,100,100 8/1963 Carpenter 114/123 3,226,066 12/1965 Folb 9/.l R 3,273,528 9/1966 Kiefer 114/61 3,276,413 10/1966 Dolph et a1. 114/123 3,585,955 6/1971 Cella 114/123 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 76,939 3/1894 Germany 114/123 Primary ExaminerTrygve M. Blix Assistant ExaminerCharles E. Frankfort [5 7] ABSTRACT A removable outrigger float and mounting assembly for use on small boats to prevent capsizing and to provide flotation for the boat if it becomes swamped or for a passenger who may become lost overboard. This safety device is mounted on the boat preferably in pairs, one each on the port and starboard side. The float is supported parallel to and above the surface of the water by an arm extending downwardly from the float and removably insertable in a close-fitting retaining slot in a receiving fixture attached to a side of the boat and opening upwardly to matingly receive and retain the downwardly extending arm from the float. A safety bolt, tightenable from within the boat by a passenger in the boat, extends through the boat hull and into the retaining slot in the receiving fixture to engage the downwardly projecting arm of the float and retain the float in an outrigger position unless the float is removed for storage or to be thrown to an overboard passenger.

3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet 1 012 3,926,136

REMOVABLE OUTRIGGER FLOAT AND MOUNTING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention related generally to safety attachments for small boats and more specifically to outrigger floats which can be easily and quickly detached from the boat by a passenger positioned within the boat to facilitate storage of the float or to provide an emergency lifesaving float for a person in the water close to the boat such as an overboard passenger.

In 1972 nearly 2,000 persons lost their lives in boating accidents and approximately 70 percent of these deaths were caused by the capsizing of small boats. There are prior art outrigger floats such as shown in US. Pat. No. 2,494,804 which, if used, would have reduced the number of deaths due to capsizing in small boats. The prior art outrigger floats have not been utilized because these floats are inconvenient and of inadequate structural strength and design to withstand the heavy loads imposed on the floats when the floats are required during maneuve ring of the boat or duringexposure to heavy seas to prevent capsizing or swamping of the boat on which the floats are installed. Although these devices are not a cureall for carelessness and lack of respect for the water on the part of an inexperienced boat operator, the outrigger floats will increase the effective beam of any boat on which the floats are installed thereby increasing the stability of the boat and reducing the risk of capsizing or swamping. Previous outrigger floats have not been readily adaptable to various boats resulting in complex support structures or in a large inventory of various support structures to accommodate the wide variety of mounting areas on the different types of boats presently afloat.

Many prior art outrigger floats have been inconvenient to use as a lifesaving aid because the floats are not quickly and easily removable from the boat by a passenger within the boat. In addition, much of the desirability of a small boat is lost if the outrigger floats must be permanently installed thereby increasing the width required at a dock and on a trailer for transporting the boat over the highways.

With the rapid proliferation of small boats and inexperienced small boat users, a safety device which can drastically reduce the frequency of capsizing and swamping of these small boats is of major concern for the safety of small boat users.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the principal object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved removable outrigger float and mounting assembly for small boats.

Another principal object of the present invention is to provide a durable and removable outrigger float and mounting assembly for small boats thereby reducing the possibility of death or injury caused by capsizing or swamping of the boats.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a removable outrigger float and mounting assembly which permits easy and safe removal of the float from the mounting assembly by a person positioned within the boat to permit ease of docking or transporting the boat on a trailer.

' An additional object of the present invention is to provide a removable outrigger float and mounting assembly which is adapted to be mounted on most small boats, thereby simplifying the selection of an outrigger float and mounting assembly and reducing the cost of inventory which must be maintained to service the float and assembly.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an outrigger float which can be quickly and easily removed from the boat and thrown to a person such as an overboard passenger in the water wherein the outrigger float can be used as a life saving device to provide flotation to the person in the water.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon careful review of the following specifications and claims, including the accompanying drawings.

THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention with the removable outrigger float and mounting assembly shown in position on a small boat;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the invention in position as shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top view of the removable outrigger float, mounting assembly and boat hull shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the present invention illustrating the float and mounting assembly in the normal position of the boat hull taken along lines 4-4 in FIG. 2 and illustrating (in dotted lines) the float when it touches the water;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the float and mounting assembly taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 2 showing the float locked in position in the mounting assembly;

FIG. 6 is an exploded fragmentary view of the present invention illustrating a portion of the float and mounting assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 6, it may be seen that a preferred embodiment of this invention mounted on a boat hull 10 generally comprises a shaped float 11 having at least one containment strap 12 and a mounting assembly 13 having a receiving fixture 14, a stress distribution plate 15, and a locking safety bolt 16.

The shaped float 11 in the preferred form has an outer layer 17, shown in FIG. 6, of neoprene rubber, a synthetic rubber made by the polymerization of chloroprene and characterized by a superior resistance to oils, gasoline, sunlight and heat and by a lower permeability to gases than rubber. The internal space 18 of the float l 1 is filled completely with styrofoam, a product of styrene plastic in liquid form which upon being sprayed into the internal space and exposed to air is converted into a semisolid rigid material in which thousands of air bubbles per cubic inch are trapped thus creating a float which does not lose its high-safety flotation performance when punctured or fractured accidentally. The outer layer 17 may be alternatively formed of fiber glass, aluminum, plastic or other material which can be suitably formed and has the desired physical characteristics. The internal space may be a void or empty space if the outer layer has sufficient strength to withstand the loads imposed on the float or the internal space may be filled with a lightweight rigid material such as balsa wood, cork or an expanded plastic.

The design characteristics of the materials and design considerations for the outer layer 11 and for the inner space 18 would be obvious to a person skilled in the art of designing or building water flotation devices.

In the preferred form, the float is flat and elongated with a generally flattened elongated ellipsoidal configuration having cross sections of smooth elliptical shape. The bow end 112 and stem end 11b of the float 11 shown in FIG. 2 curve smoothly upward, beginning near either end. This curvature prevents digging of the float in the water and minimizes the drag caused by the friction of the float in the water when the boat on which the device is installed encounters rolling or breaking seas while under way in forward or in reverse direction or when the boat is maneuvering in such a way as to cause the boat to roll.

While under way in normal sailing weather the float 11 does not contact the water surface, except on a boat having a very shallow freeboard dimension, in which case moderate contact with the water surface may occur at the stern end 11b of the float when the boat is under way at high speed or when the boat is making a sharp turn at a high speed; therefore, the float should not interefere with proper boat handling.

The containment strap 12 is preferably fabricated of stainless steel having a rectangular cross-sectional shape and is bent in an elliptical shape (as shown particularly in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6) to conform to the elliptical cross-sectional shape of the float 11 and to fit into a mating recess 19, shown in FIG. 6, in the float 11. This provides a smooth uninterrupted float surface which reduces drag on the float when it is moving in the water and improves the appearance of the float. Each float in the preferred embodiment has two containment straps l2 spaced from each end of the float, as shown in FIG. 1, to provide strength to carry the high loads necessary to prevent capsizing or swamping of the boat on which they are mounted. Two ends 120 and 12b of the containment strap are overlapped and joined by electric weld to form a rigid projecting bar which extends outwardly from the float l 1. A portion of the projecting bar including the outer end are bent downwardly at an angle parallel to the size of the boat hull when the float is installed, thereby providing a downwardly projecting member which is insertable in the mounting fixture hereinafter described and as particularly shown in FIG. 5.

A safety bolt hole 21 is drilled and threaded at a central position near the lower end of the downwardly projecting member 20 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 to receive the locking safety bolt 16. This prevents the float 11 from becoming dislodged from the mounting assembly 13 due to water turbulence or rolling seas striking the under side of the float, which may restrict the removal of the float.

The receiving fixture 14, which accepts and retains the downwardly projecting member 20, is preferably fabricated from aluminum or other noncorrosive metal, to prevent corrosion of the fixture, thereby, restricting the removal of the float especially when the boat is operated in salt water. The receiving fixture is, in the preferred embodiment, a rectangular block for economy of manufacture, although the fixture may be of any shape desired such as round or oval and function equally well. Within the receiving fixture 14 is an elongated slot 22, shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, which provides a mating cavity to receive the downwardly projecting arm 20, and which extends downwardly and nearly through the receiving fixture. Any method of securing the receiving fixture to the hull of the boat may be used; however, in the preferred embodiment the receiving fixture 14 has mounting bolt holes 23, positioned at each corner of the receiving fixture to receive mounting bolts 24 (shown in FIGS. 5 and 6). These bolts are preferably constructed of stainless steel for strength and corrosion resistance and are used to secure the mounting fixture to the hull 10 of the boat. A safety bolt clearance hole 25 extends into the slot 22 through the receiving fixture and is positioned to align with the safety bolt hole 21 in the downwardly projecting member 20 when the downwardly projecting member 20 is inserted in the mating slot 22 of the receiving fixture 14.

The stress distribution plate 15 increases the capability of the hull to carry the forces caused by the floats by distributing the stresses over the portion of the hull adjacent the receiving fixture 14. The stress plate provides a neat inboard appearance for the mounting assembly l3 and is preferably fabricated from aluminum or other non-corrosive material to prevent corrosion and to maintain the initial attractive appearance of the plate. The stress distribution plate, in the preferred embodiment, is a rectangular block of approximately the same dimensions as the receiving fixture, although the plate may be somewhat thinner since the plate does not contain a receiving slot 22. Four mounting bolt clearance holes and a safety bolt clearance hole 27 are positioned on the stress distribution plate to align with the holes 23 and 25 on the receiving fixture 14 as shown in FIG. 6.

The mounting assembly 13 is attached to the hull 10 as shown particularly in FIGS. 5 and 6 by inserting the mounting bolts 24 through the receiving fixture 14, the hull 10 and the stress distribution plate 15 and then securing the bolts in position with lock washers 29 and nuts 30.

Unintentional or accidental removal of the floats is prevented by the safety bolt 16 which secures the downwardly projecting arm 20 of the float in the mating slot 22 of the receiving fixture 14 when the safety bolt 16 is inserted through the stress plate 15, the hull 10, the receiving block 14 and threaded into the safety bolt hole 21 in the downwardly projecting member 20. The safety bolt 16 has self-locking threads to prevent the bolt from shaking loose and a wing-nut type bolt head 28 for quick and easy insertion or removal by a person positioned in the boat whenever the float must be removed.

The proper positioning of the float 11 and mounting assembly 13 is with the stem end of the float two feet forward of the transom of the boat with the height above the waterline determined by the freeboard dimensions and the boat owners preference as to the point at which he wishes the float to extend from the hull.

To install the float 11 in the mounting device 13, a person standing or sitting in the boat grasps the lightweight float 11 and inserts the downwardly projecting members 20 of the float into the mating slots 22 in the receiving fixture 14. The person in the boat then inserts the safety bolts 16 through clearance holes 27 in the stress plates 15 and manually rotates the bolts by grasping and twisting the wingnut type bolt heads 28 to thread the bolts into the safety bolt holes 21 in the downwardly projecting arms 20 until the safety bolts are hand tight. To remove the float for storage or to provide a lifesaving float for an overboard person, the wingnut type bolt heads 28 are grasped by a person in the boat and rotated to remove the bolts from the safety bolt holes 21 in the downwardly projecting arms 20. The safety bolts 16 are then extracted and the float is pulled upwardly to remove the downwardly projecting arms 20 from the mating slot 22 in the receiving fixtures 14. The wingnut bolt head permits the removal of the safety bolt without the use of any additional tools and, therefore, when an emergency occurs such as a passenger overboard the float can be quickly and easily removed to provide a lifesaving flotation device.

From the foregoing detailed description, it will be evident that there are a number of changes, adaptations and modifications of the present invention which come within the province of those skilled in the art. However, it is intended that all such variations not departing from the spirit of the invention be considered as within the scope thereof as limited solely by the depended claims.

I claim:

1. An outrigger float device for a boat comprising a float having two containment straps encircling the float and spaced from opposite ends of the float with the ends of each strap overlapped and fastened together with the opposite end of the same strap and bent downwardly and parallel to the side of the boat to form a downwardly projecting member and with a threaded bore extending hereinto, mounting blocks positioned on an outboard side of the boat in alignment with the downwardly projecting members and having upwardly opening slots to receive the downwardly projecting members and a safety bolt hole through an inboard side of each of the mounting blocks for alignment with the threaded bore on the downwardly projecting member when the downwardly projecting member is inserted in the mounting block slot and mounting bolt holes extending through each of the mounting blocks, stress distribution plates positioned on an inboard side of the boat and having mounting bolt apertures aligned with the mounting bolt holes in the mounting blocks and safety bolt apertures aligned with the safety bolt holes in the mounting blocks, mounting bolts passing through the mounting bolt apertures in the stress plates, the side of the boat and the mounting bolt holes in the mounting blocks to secure said mounting blocks to the side of the boat, and safety lock bolts having wing-nut type heads and self-locking threaded bolt portions whereby the safety lock bolts can be inserted through the safety bolt apertures in the stress plates, the side of the boat, and the safety bolt holes in the mounting blocks to engage the threaded bores in the downwardly projecting members.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the float has an elastomeric outer layer and a rigid foam core and wherein the float is of generally elliptical cross-section with upswept curves at the bow end and at the stem end of the float to minimize drag.

3. A removable outrigger float and mounting assembly for use on small boats to prevent capsizing and to provide flotation for a swamped boat or for an overboard passenger comprising a shaped float, a rigid member including at least one containment strap of rectangular cross-section having two strap ends and en circling the float, said rigid member secured to said float and having said two ends of the containment strap overlapped, fastened together and bent downwardly from the float to form the rigid downwardly projecting portion with a threaded bore extending thereinto, a receiving fixture including a block having an upwardly opening slot for receiving the downwardly projecting portion of the ends of the containment strap, and a bore extending into the receiving slot through an inboard side of the block and positioned to align with the threaded bore in the downwardly projecting portion when the downwardly projecting portion is inserted in the receiving slot, said receiving fixture secured to a side of the boat and adapted to receive and retain said downwardly projecting portion of said member and a locking means operative between said receiving fixture and said projecting portion to lock said downwardly projecting portion to said receiving fixture and to said boat, said locking means including a safety bolt access hole in the side of the boat aligned with the bore in the block and a safety bolt extending from the interior of the boat, through the safety bolt access hole, through the bore in the block and threaded into the threaded bore in the downwardly projecting portion of the rigid member to removably retain the float on the boat. 

1. An outrigger float device for a boat comprising a float having two containment straps encircling the float and spaced from opposite ends of the float with the ends of each strap overlapped and fastened together with the opposite end of the same strap and bent downwardly and parallel to the side of the boat to form a downwardly projecting member and with a threaded bore extending hereinto, mounting blocks positioned on an outboard side of the boat in alignment with the downwardly projecting members and having upwardly opening slots to receive the downwardly projecting members and a safety bolt hole through an inboard side of each of the mounting blocks for alignment with the threaded bore on the downwardly projecting member when the downwardly projecting member is inserted in the mounting block slot and mounting bolt holes extending through each of the mounting blocks, stress distribution plates positioned on an inboard side of the boat and having mounting bolt apertures aligned with the mounting bolt holes in the mounting blocks and safety bolt apertures aligned with the safety bolt holes in the mounting blocks, mounting bolts passing through the mounting bolt apertures in the stress plates, the side of the boat and the mounting bolt holes in the mounting blocks to secure said mounting blocks to the side of the boat, and safety lock bolts having wing-nut type heads and self-locking threaded bolt portions whereby the safety lock bolts can be inserted through the safety bolt apertures in the stress plates, the side of the boat, and the safety bolt holes in the mounting blocks to engage the threaded bores in the downwardly projecting members.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the float has an elastomeric outer layer and a rigid foam core and wherein the float is of generally elliptical cross-section with upswept curves at the bow end and at the stern end of the float to minimize drag.
 3. A removable outrigger float and mounting assembly for use on small boats to prevent capsizing and to provide flotation for a swamped boat or for an overboard passenger comprising a shaped float, a rigid member including at least one containment strap of rectangular cross-section having two strap ends and encircling the float, said rigid member secured to said float and having said two ends of the containment strap overlapped, fastened together and bent downwardly from the float to form the rigid downwardly projecting portion with a threaded bore extending thereinto, a receiving fixture including a block having an upwardly opening slot for receiving the downwardly projecting portion of the ends of the containment strap, and a bore extending into the receiving slot through an inboard side of the block and positioned to align with the threaded bore in the downwardly projecting portion when the downwardly projecting portion is inserted in the receiving slot, said receiving fixture secured to a side of the boat and adapted to receive and retain said downwardly projecting portion of said member and a locking means operative between said receiving fixture and said projecting portion to lock said downwardly projecting portion to said receiving fixture and to said boat, said locking means including a safety bolt access hole in the side of the boat aligned with the bore in the block and a safety bolt extending from the interior of the boat, through the safety bolt access hole, through the bore in the block and threaded into the threaded bore in the downwardly projecting portion of the rigid member to removably retain the float on the boat. 